ELTHAM JUBILEE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19803, 19 May 1934, Page 19

ELTHAM JUBILEE

PRIME MINISTER’S TRIBUTE TO PIONEERS. By Telegraph—Press Association ELTHAM, May 18. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes and Mrs Forbes, were the principal guests at the Eltham Jubilee to-day, receiving an enthusiastic reception at all functions, Mr and Mrs Forbes inspected the New Zealand rennet factory and the industriaii exhibition together, and at the pioneers reunion this afternoon mixed freely with the people renewing old friendships and making others. In the evening they received 18 debutantes at the jubilee ball. An impressive welcome was given them at a reunion held at the Mercy Jenkins Home on a hill overlooking a rich landscape. Mr Forbes, addressing the gathering paid a tribute to the pioneers. To one who remembered the district 50 years ago the marvellous transformation was a striking tribute to the genius jf the industry and courage of the British race. New Zealand colonists had lived up to the highest traditions of the race. A jubilee was a stocktaking when people could take pride in the accomplishments of 50 years. This pride of accomplishment had made progress possible. New Zealanders were fortunate in having a country, which had been transformed into the finest in the world by the hard toil of the pioneers. They m ist not forget those who had helped the pioneers—their wives. The spirit of hospitality and co-operation was strong in the old pioneers, and that was a lesson that would help New Zealand through its difficulties and problems which were without precedent. , The Government had untrodden paths to travel and needed the co-operation of the people.